UK girl's name
Somer
A feminine given name potentially inspired by the season of summer.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Somer is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Somer popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4764, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 16 births.
This profile covers 117 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1996 to 2011. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 116 living people in the UK are called Somer. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Somer ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 16 girls were registered as Somer.
- • About 116 living people in the UK are estimated to have Somer as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4764
2011
Births in 2011
4
Latest year
Peak year
1998
16 births
Estimated living
116
2026
Meaning
What does Somer mean?
The given name Somer is believed to have its origins in the Old English language. It is derived from the Old English word "sumor," which means "summer." This name likely emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, which spanned from the 5th to the 11th centuries.
The name Somer is thought to be a reference to the season of summer, possibly given to children born during the warmer months of the year. It may have also been used as a descriptive name, referring to someone with a warm or sunny disposition.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Somer can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Somer, though it is unclear if this was a first name or a surname.
In the Middle Ages, the name Somer appeared in various forms, such as Somere and Sommer, in various parts of Europe. A notable historical figure with this name was Somer de Lecchelade, a 13th-century English knight who fought in the Barons' War against King Henry III.
During the Renaissance period, the name Somer gained some popularity in England and other parts of Europe. One notable bearer of this name was Somer West, an English politician and Member of Parliament who lived from 1593 to 1668.
In the 18th century, the name Somer was used by the German philosopher and writer Somer Hieronymus Lorm, who was born in 1717 and is known for his contributions to the Enlightenment movement.
Another famous bearer of the name Somer was the American author and poet Somer Browne, who lived from 1768 to 1830 and is best known for his collection of poems titled "The Foresters."
In the 19th century, the name Somer was used by the British artist and illustrator Somer Macdonald, who was born in 1838 and is renowned for his illustrations in various books and magazines.
While the name Somer has been used throughout history, it has never been a particularly common or popular name in any specific region or culture. However, it remains a unique and intriguing name with a fascinating linguistic and historical background.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Somer over time
The chart below shows babies named Somer registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Somer, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2011, compared with 16 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Somer by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Somer was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5236 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | #2835 | 68 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1866 | 42 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Somer
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Somer: questions and answers
How popular is the name Somer in the UK right now?
In 2011, Somer was ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Somer most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 16 babies registered as Somer in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Somer?
A feminine given name potentially inspired by the season of summer.
How many people are called Somer in the UK?
A total of 117 babies have been registered as Somer across the 15 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.